Marcelo’s statements: parties speak of “bad taste” and “betrayal of the country” | President

PSD and PS were the exception and refused to comment, but half of the parties with parliamentary seats harshly criticized Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s words about Luís Montenegro and António Costa during a dinner with foreign correspondents in Portugal. André Ventura even warned that he will refer to the case in his speech at the formal session of the 25th of April in Parliament and that if in Portugal “there were a process of dismissal of the President as there is in other countries, Chega would not hesitate to open it” afterwards of this case.

The president of Chega was very critical of the one who was once his opponent in presidential elections, admitting “astonishment, consternation” at hearing such statements from Marcelo. “It’s not very dignifying”, he pointed out, considering that it is not “foolishness”, but rather a “profound betrayal of the people and those who fought” to end the dictatorship. André Ventura stated that the President made the comments on purpose. “I think the President will be fine in terms of faculties; I want to believe that he said it with conscience.”

“It’s not just bad tone and bad taste, regardless of who occupies the position of prime minister, (…) it manifests prejudice, discrimination and classism”, pointed out bloc coordinator Mariana Mortágua.

Livre’s parliamentary leader, Isabel Mendes Lopes, stated that the party is “shocked” by what it heard from those who should represent the “unity” of the country and of all Portuguese people from the West and East, from rural and urban areas, and considered be a discourse that “feeds prejudice and contributes to greater polarization of society”.

For the only deputy and spokesperson for the PAN, Inês de Sousa Real, it was an “institutional disrespect”, especially coming from the President of the Republic, who “represents everyone, regardless of whether they come from urban or rural areas”.